Hydrangea plant named ‘Bokraplume’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Bokraplume’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading plant habit; and inflorescences with white-colored flowers that with development become red purple in color.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Bokraplume’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bokraplume’.

The new Hydrangea plant is the product of an open-pollination occurring in July, 2003 in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The female, or seed, parent is an unnamed seedling selection of Hydrangea paniculata, not patented and the male, or pollen, parent is an unknown selection of Hydrangea paniculata. The new Hydrangea was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands during the summer of 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since the summer of 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bokraplume’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bokraplume’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Inflorescences with white-colored flowers that become red         purple in color with development.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in plant habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea ‘Bokratorch’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Pat. application Ser. No. 12/315,155. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Bokratorch’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not as broad as plants of         ‘Bokratorch’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger panicles than plants         of ‘Bokratorch’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Bokratorch’ differ in         sterile flower color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea ‘Kyushu’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Kyushu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘Kyushu’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become red purple in         color with development whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kyushu’         become off-white to brown with development.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of Hydrangea ‘Pink Diamond’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Pink Diamond’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘Pink Diamond’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become red purple in         color with development whereas flowers of plants of ‘Pink         Diamond’ become light red purple to purple pink with         development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photographs may differ from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Bokraplume’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘Bokraplume’.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical developing inflorescence of ‘Bokraplume’.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical developed inflorescence of ‘Bokraplume’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the spring and summer in Boskoop, The Netherlands, in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 16° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea had been growing for four years when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bokraplume’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Hydrangea paniculata, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hydrangea             paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 25 days at temperatures of 22°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three months at             temperatures of 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, moderately fleshy;             light brown in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form/growth habit.—Compact and outwardly spreading plant             habit; broad inverted triangle. Moderately strong lateral             branches; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 73.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 112.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about 23             lateral branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 55.4 cm. Diameter: About 6             mm Internode length: About 6.8 cm. Texture, developing:             Sparsely pubescent. Texture, fully developed: Smooth,             glabrous. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Color, developing: Between N186D and 187B. Color, fully             developed: Close to 199A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute to short apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Senate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rugose.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and 144A;             venation, close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 138B; venation, between 147C and 48C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 152D; along margins, close to 187B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single fertile and sterile flowers             arranged on terminal lacecap panicles; panicles roughly             conical. Flowers face upright to outward.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet, moderate.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering during the             summer to the late summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about one week on the             plant and sterile flowers last about three weeks on the             plant; fertile and sterile flowers persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 450             fertile flowers and about 65 sterile flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 13.9 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 12.7 cm.         -   Fertile flowers.—Diameter: About 9 mm. Depth (height): About             8 mm. Flower buds: Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 155C flushed with             close to 63D. Petals: Arrangement: About five in a single             whorl. Length: About 4.5 mm Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 155C. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 155C slightly flushed with between 62D and 63D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N155A. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 155A. Sepals: Not observed.             Pedicels: Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 155A. Reproductive organs: Stamens: Quantity             per flower: About eight. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to N155A. Anther shape: Reniform.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 155A to             155B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 158C to             158D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: About three.             Pistil length: About 2.5 mm. Stigma shape: Flattened. Stigma             color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color:             Close to 155C. Ovary color: Close to 155A.         -   Sterile flowers.—Diameter: About 3.4 cm. Depth (height):             About 6 mm. Flower buds: Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 150D becoming             closer to 157A with development. Petals: Arrangement: About             four in a single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About             1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 155C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 155C slightly flushed with             close to 62C to 62D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             155C flushed with close to 62C to 62D. Sepals: Arrangement:             About four or five in a single whorl. Length: About 1.7 cm.             Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Recuse to             rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 157C to 157D. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 157D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 157D;             towards the apex, close to 62D; color becoming closer to             185B with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             157D; color becoming closer to between 150D to 160D flushed             with close to 185D. Pedicels: Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 155A to 155B. Reproductive organs:             Stamens: Quantity per flower: About eight. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to N155A. Anther shape:             Reniform. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to             155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 158C to             158D. Pistils: Not observed.         -   Fruits/seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Hydrangea. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about     35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Bokraplume’ as illustrated and described. 